An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Navy Scientists, Engineers Receive Awards From Department's Top R&D Leader

06 August 2020

From Assistant Secretary of Navy for Research Development and Acquisition Public Affairs

Top scientists and engineers across the Navy and Marine Corps were recognized for their work at a July 24 ceremony in Maryland.

The best of the best in Navy and Marine Corps engineering and scientific were recognized July 24, at the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN [RDA]) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers Awards Ceremony, held at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division in Bethesda, Maryland.

“These awards are a testament to our number one asset, our people,” said James F. Geurts, ASN (RDA). “These awardees today have made amazing accomplishments; they represent thousands and thousands in our workforce. They represent a workforce that is relevant, mission focused, adaptive and world class. I could not be more proud; awardees today are the best of the best.”

The award is named after former ASN (RDA) Delores M. Etter, who participated virtually, hosted by Geurts. This year's ceremony saw a mix of in-person attendees from local commands and virtual attendees. Geurts personally recognized 54 top scientists and engineers from across the Department of the Navy (DON).

Geurts and Etter both highlighted during their remarks the great accomplishment of these individuals and teams that represented the organic DON scientific and engineering community. Comments from both speakers complimented the contributions to mission and national security, and highlighted the importance of the science and engineering that goes into the technology delivered to the services.

Michele Suite from the Naval Research Lab is congratulated by James Geurts, ASN/RD&A.
Michele Suite from the Naval Research Lab is congratulated by James Geurts, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, during the Department of Navy’s 2020 Top Scientists and Engineers Award Ceremony. Suite was one of 54 awardees recognized during a July 24, 2020, ceremony at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division Melville-Taylor Auditorium, Bethesda, Maryland.
Michele Suite from the Naval Research Lab is congratulated by James Geurts, ASN/RD&A.
2020 Top Scientists and Engineers Awards
Michele Suite from the Naval Research Lab is congratulated by James Geurts, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, during the Department of Navy’s 2020 Top Scientists and Engineers Award Ceremony. Suite was one of 54 awardees recognized during a July 24, 2020, ceremony at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division Melville-Taylor Auditorium, Bethesda, Maryland.
Photo By: Navy Capt. Daniel Hernandez
VIRIN: 200806-N-NO101-999

Etter in her remarks emphasized the need to encourage the next generations of engineers and scientists for Department of Navy positions. “We must each do something to encourage young people to consider STEM careers – those in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”  

To that end, she announced a STEM scholarship program for children, grandchildren and spouses of the 2020 awardees, with five $10,000 scholarships to be awarded in the spring 2021 semester. These scholarships honor the outstanding contributions of to national security by this year's awardees.

About 54 awardees were responsible for complex and in some cases quantum leaps in advancing the Navy's technological edge. From digital twins, to robots to lasers, a number of citations highlighted how Navy’s organic workforce of engineers and scientists are allowing the Navy to adapt and flex to today’s emerging operational challenges. 

Both civilian and military scientists and engineers in the DON were eligible for these annual awards. All nominations were reviewed and scored by an executive panel. Awardees were in the categories of Emergent Engineers (no more than 10 years of cumulative experience), Emergent Scientists, Individual Engineers, Individual Scientists, Group of Scientists and/or Engineers from a single command, and Group of Scientist and/or Engineers collaborating across the Naval Research and Development Establishment (NR&DE) to include DoD.

Awardees were:


EMERGENT ENGINEERS
 ALI OLINGER (MCSC/PEO LS)

 ISAAC SLEDGE (NSWC Panama City)
EMERGENT SCIENTIST INVESTIGATORS

 MARK BILINSKI (NIWC PACIFIC)

 KATE RAINEY (NIWC PACIFIC)

C NIELS H. OLSON (Naval Hospital, Guam)

 BRANDON REDDING (NRL)

INDIVIDUAL ENGINEERS

 DANIEL CURTIS (NIWC PACIFIC)

 JOEL GALLES (NUWC KEYPORT)

 GARY KING (NIWC PACIFIC)

 MATTHEW LEHR (NSWC DAHLGREN)

 MICHAEL LIBEAU (NSWC DAHLGREN)

 CRAIG MADDEN (NSWC CARDEROCK)

 MATTHEW RAMBO (PEO C4I)

 MICHELE SUITE (NRL)

 EDWARD TERSINE (NSWC INDIAN HEAD EOD TECH DIV)

INDIVIDUAL SCIENTISTS

 TIMOTHY BOLE (NSWC CARDEROCK)

 BENJAMIN GOULD (NRL)

 YOON HWANG (NAMRU-SA)

GROUP

AN/BYG-1 COMBAT CONTROL SYSTEM VIRTUAL TWIN TEAM
NUWC Newport Teammates:
 Anthony Soscia

 Christopher Plezia

 Scott Aubuchon

 Edgardo Ramos

 Richmond Huot

 Vathana Chan

 Phong Tran

EXPERIMENTAL HULL TREATMENT (XHT) TECHNOLOGY TEAM

NAVSEA Teammates:
 Joseph Hellman

 David Owen

 William Soublo

 David Ciscon

 Michael Shimko

NON-GPS AIDED POSITIONING AND TIMING FOR SURFACE SHIPS FUTURE NAVAL CAPABILITY (FNC) TEAM
Teammates:
 Jacob Bencke (NIWC PACIFIC)

 Kyle Swanson (NIWC PACIFIC)

 Chad Pinkelman (NIWC PACIFIC)

 Kevin Dea (NIWC PACIFIC)

 Aaron Nascimento (PEO C4I)

OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY (00T) TEAM

NSWC Port Hueneme Teammates:
 Greg DeVogel

 Socrates Frangis

 Danny Clark

 Matt Ward

HYPERVELOCITY GUN WEAPON SYSTEM (HGWS) SENSOR INTEGRATED PRODUCT TEAM (IPT)
NSWC DAHLGREN Teammates:

Kathleen Llacuna

 Terry Foreman

 Nicholas Reynolds

 Madeline Jackson

 Neil Jablonski

RAPID RESPONSE AND INTEGRATION (R21) TEAM

NIWC PACIFIC Teammates

 Brian Visser

 Jimmy Linh

 Ling Finan

 Henry Houle

 Emily Nguyen

GROUP COLLABORATING ACROSS THE NR&DE

MARITIME TEST BED (MTB) Teammates

Kevin Conowitch (NAVSEA PMS 485)

CWO5 Saunte Allen (NAVSEA PMS 485)

David Mendoza (NAVSEA PMS 485)

Jeffrey Lloyd (NIWC PACIFIC)

Joshua Henson (NAVFAC EXWC)

  
 

Google Translation Disclaimer

Guidance-Card-Icon Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon